[QUOTE=scout1;35395208]Yes because a people's religious beliefs are [I]clearly[/I] the determining factor for progress.[/QUOTE]
The Dark Ages was a intellectual black hole where we lost a lot of progress. The library of Alexandria anyone?

[QUOTE=Marbalo;35396510]Sure is people confusing organized religion with religion in general in here. Organized religion is a plague on humanity that preaches hate and intolerance, while simultaneously asking for money - basically exploiting the already exploited poor and keeping them in line to further make the rich richer. If you condone that then you are nothing short of scum, period.[/QUOTE] What about religions that donate large amounts of money to charities? [editline]2nd April 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Isuzu;35396939] No I would "not ok" with that but this is (still) a free world we are living on. I cannot stop you from delusioning yourself so let us hope that this world will stay secular and free. Not to talk about all the fear, death, torture, hatred, conflict and terror religion has been causing while atheism sofar has not been the foundation of any of those things I just described so I wouldn't call myself ignorant but humane and progressive.[/QUOTE] The whole "nothing has been done in the name of atheism" is such a cop out argument. Of course nothing has been done in the name of a lack of something, that wouldn't make sense., never mind the fact that atheism has only really been popular for about 100 years, where as religion has had thousands of years and thus more time to have horrible things done in its name (although for the most part it's usually been used as an excuse to do bad things rather than a direct cause of them)

You mean religious charities that take the money to pay for missionaries to convert even more poor people into the scheme? Consider that a good-returns investment.

[QUOTE=Isuzu;35397659]You mean religious charities that take the money to pay for missionaries to convert even more poor people into the scheme?[/QUOTE] Or you know, the ones that open up soup kitchens and stuff like that.

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35397570]What about religions that donate large amounts of money to charities? [editline]2nd April 2012[/editline] The whole "nothing has been done in the name of atheism" is such a cop out argument. Of course nothing has been done in the name of a lack of something, that wouldn't make sense., never mind the fact that atheism has only really been popular for about 100 years, where as religion has had thousands of years and thus more time to have horrible things done in its name (although for the most part it's usually been used as an excuse to do bad things rather than a direct cause of them)[/QUOTE]
you mean like the catholic church
the one that threatened to shut down it's homeless shelters if they didn't get their way politically
yeah, thank the lord for them

[QUOTE=Mr. Scorpio;35397671]you mean like the catholic church the one that threatened to shut down it's homeless shelters if they didn't get their way politically yeah, thank the lord for them[/QUOTE] Yes because as we know the catholic church is the only religious sect in the world.

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35397663]Or you know, the ones that open up soup kitchens and stuff like that.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, those are absolutely fine but I can't help but see nothing more than clever public relations as the majority of homeless shelters are government subsidized.

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35397682]Yes because as we know the catholic church is the only religious sect in the world.[/QUOTE]
no no, you're right
they're just one of the largest

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35397570] The whole "nothing has been done in the name of atheism" is such a cop out argument. Of course nothing has been done in the name of a lack of something, that wouldn't make sense., never mind the fact that atheism has only really been popular for about 100 years, where as religion has had thousands of years and thus more time to have horrible things done in its name (although for the most part it's usually been used as an excuse to do bad things rather than a direct cause of them)[/QUOTE]
Your point being...?

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35397663]Or you know, the ones that open up soup kitchens and stuff like that.[/QUOTE]
considering most of the religions that open those up are tax exempt, I'd be offended if they didn't

[QUOTE=strayebyrd;35397720]considering most of the religions that open those up are tax exempt, I'd be offended if they didn't[/QUOTE] Well you can't really tax an organisation that is non-profit.

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35397745]Well you can't really tax an organisation that is non-profit.[/QUOTE]
uhhhhh
non profit
churches
Are you talking about that in a legal loophole way? Like, where they're classified as non profit but they generate millions of dollars? You're doing that, right?

[QUOTE=Mr. Scorpio;35397761]uhhhhh non profit churches Are you talking about that in a legal loophole way? Like, where they're classified as non profit but they generate millions of dollars? You're doing that, right?[/QUOTE] Well considering by law none of those millions can actually be used for personal gain, it's not a very effective business model.

[QUOTE=Zally13;35395266]No they can't.
We don't follow one doctrine. We just don't accept any doctrine. We're not a religion like you implied, dammit. We're a lack of one. Get it right. We decided not to follow faith. That's it. Some decide to believe in evolution, some decide to believe in the Big Bang, etc. We're not categorized by belief, but lack of one.[/QUOTE]
That doesn't mean you can't be bigoted.

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35397808]Well considering by law none of those millions can actually be used for personal gain, it's not a very effective business model.[/QUOTE]
apparently none of the megachurch owners have heard that rule
you should probably tell them that

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35397808]Well considering by law none of those millions can actually be used for personal gain, it's not a very effective business model.[/QUOTE]
I love the glitzy non-profit gold the pope is always carrying.

[QUOTE=Civil;35395412]Meanwhile in Sweden: 98% are non-religious[/QUOTE]
[img]http://filesmelt.com/dl/Estonia_Woo.png[/img]
Actually, Estonia is in the lead.
Estonia is generally quite well educated aswell, I like my country.

[QUOTE=Ray-The-Sun;35397838]I love the glitzy non-profit gold the pope is always carrying.[/QUOTE] Most of that is of historical value. A lot of the catholic churches money is tied up in assets and this thus not very useful to them.

Oh.
Ah.
Okay.
"Historical value".
Right.
Sure.
[editline]2nd April 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;35397935]A lot of the catholic churches money is tied up in assets and this thus not very useful to them.[/QUOTE]
Well what about your "historcial value"?

[QUOTE=Isuzu;35398050]Oh.
Ah.
Okay.
"Historical value".
Right.
Sure.
[editline]2nd April 2012[/editline]
Well what about your "historcial value"?[/QUOTE]
You haven't made an argument.

[QUOTE=Isuzu;35398050]Oh.
Ah.
Okay.
"Historical value".
Right.
Sure.
[editline]2nd April 2012[/editline]
Well what about your "historcial value"?[/QUOTE]
Right because decorating the most respected person of the Catholic church is clearly because they're all money-grubbing assholes. Okay. Right. Sure. Mmhmm.

[QUOTE=Isuzu;35398050]Oh.
Ah.
Okay.
"Historical value".
Right.
Sure.
[editline]2nd April 2012[/editline]
Well what about your "historcial value"?[/QUOTE]
Even if your beliefs are different, you seem just as hateful as the extremist religious people and you're acting like you're just "above" these people.
You're the type of person who hurts your own cause by making athiests look like as much of a hate-filled group as the ones you describe.

[b]21[/b] Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
[b]22[/b] When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
[b]23[/b] Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
[b]24[/b] Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
[b]#Matthew 19:21-24[/b]
[b]1[/b] “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
[b]2[/b] “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
[b]3[/b] But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
[b]4[/b] so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
[b]5[/b] “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
[b]6[/b] But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
[b]#Matthew 6:1-6[/b]
Catholic Church in a nutshell.

[QUOTE=Bradyns;35398203][b]21[/b] Jesus answered, &#8220;If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.&#8221;
[b]22[/b] When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
[b]23[/b] Then Jesus said to his disciples, &#8220;I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
[b]24[/b] Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.&#8221;
[b]#Matthew 19:21-24[/b]
[b]1[/b] &#8220;Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
[b]2[/b] &#8220;So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
[b]3[/b] But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
[b]4[/b] so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
[b]5[/b] &#8220;And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
[b]6[/b] But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
[b]#Matthew 6:1-6[/b]
Catholic Church in a nutshell.[/QUOTE]
Religious people not following their own doctrine whenever it suits them isn't really new.

[QUOTE=Protocol7;35398221]Religious people not following their own doctrine whenever it suits them isn't really new.[/QUOTE]
[b]Exodus 20:13[/b]
;D

[QUOTE=Bradyns;35398262][b]Exodus 20:13[/b]
;D[/QUOTE]
tell that to the crusades
that's really my biggest problem with religion - why bother following it if you're going to ignore the parts that don't suit you? I know many Christians for example who eat pork but they're specifically told not to eat it.

[QUOTE=Protocol7;35398278]tell that to the crusades
that's really my biggest problem with religion - why bother following it if you're going to ignore the parts that don't suit you? I know many Christians for example who eat pork but they're specifically told not to eat it.[/QUOTE]
I am more concerned with women having authority over men, Saul quite clearly outlined in 1 Timothy how shit should go down.
#1 Timothy 2:12
(Before whiny man-bitches cry "CONTEXT", read it in context.. It only gets better and better (Or if you don't have a penis; worse and worse.))

[QUOTE=Protocol7;35398278]tell that to the crusades
[/QUOTE]
Too bad you've got some new crusades already going anyways, and this time religion just helped.

[QUOTE=Protocol7;35398278]tell that to the crusades that's really my biggest problem with religion - why bother following it if you're going to ignore the parts that don't suit you? I know many Christians for example who eat pork but they're specifically told not to eat it.[/QUOTE] Old testament rules don't apply to Christians as was decided by the first century apostles in the new testament.